AI-powered Peruvian dictionary translates Spanish to sign language and vice versa

The Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) has introduced a new Spanish-Peruvian Sign Language bilingual virtual dictionary designed with artificial intelligence. This dictionary is available free of charge for people with hearing disabilities or for anyone interested in learning this language. The PUCP announced the development of the first dictionary of its kind, which currently includes 750 Spanish words with their corresponding signs in Peruvian Sign Language (LSP).

Users can input words like ‘hello’, ‘friend’, ‘eat’, ‘walk’, or ‘dog’ into the search engine and instantly view short videos demonstrating how to sign these concepts. The dictionary utilizes artificial intelligence to recognize up to 38 signs in LSP and provide their Spanish translations. It is also designed to be scalable, enabling the gradual addition of new signs.

In addition to the standard search feature, the dictionary offers a service where users can demonstrate signs themselves. By recording the user making signs, the dictionary displays the corresponding word or concept on the screen after a few seconds. According to the latest census by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), over half a million people in Peru have some form of hearing disability, facing various obstacles in education and accessing services and information.

The creators of the dictionary, Gissella Bejarano and Dr. Miguel Rodríguez Mondoñedo, hope that this tool will facilitate communication, access to information, and promote inclusivity in Peru. They emphasize the importance of collaboration between linguists and the deaf community in achieving these goals. The dictionary not only marks a milestone in linguistic research and artificial intelligence but also represents a significant step towards recognizing the linguistic identity of the deaf community.

By providing a platform for learning and communication, this dictionary aims to foster inclusivity at both individual and institutional levels. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to learn Peruvian Sign Language or improve communication with the deaf community.